The 50-bed Upazila health Complex in Sirajganj district has been plagued with various mismanagements and obstacles for a long time now. As a result, more than 300 thousands locals are facing problems.
There are three ambulances to carry ill patients around in Tarash 50-bed Health Complex. However, local patients are suffering for a lot, as all three of the ambulances are out of service for quite a long time now.
As a result, fatally ill patients are forced to use rented micro buses turned into ambulances, with extra fair for moving in between hospitals and clinics in time of emergency.
Meanwhile, the X-ray machine in that hospital has been remained out of order for the last 15 years. Although it is a 50-bed hospital on paper, the medical activities have been going on for the last 9 years with the equipment and manpower of a 31-bed hospital. Due to these reasons, people of the upazila are being deprived of necessary medical services.
According to hospital sources, there are only 5 doctors working against 17 posts of the hospital. The post of the X-ray technologist is vacant as the X-ray machine broke down 15 years ago. The hospital has two ultra sonogram machines but no technician to operate those machines.
Most of the equipments in the hospital are on the verge of breaking down for lying unused. This is causing thousands of government money to go to waste. Whereas, general public are being forced to spend extra money to get treatments at nearby private hospitals and clinics. Despite repeated reports in regional and national newspapers to change the condition of the hospital, the condition remained the same.
One of the victims Babul Sheikh said there was no working ambulance available at the hospital now. If anyone calls for an ambulance, they say the ambulance is out of order. Therefore, in case of emergency, people are forced to rent private ambulances for excessive money.
Tarash Sadar Union Parishad Chairman Babul Sheih posted an emotional status on his Facebook wall on last August 31 about the harassments he faced at the hospital. He wrote that there was no official ambulance at Tarash Hospital at the time when his sick mother needed an ambulance for better treatment. The quality of service there is at its lowest, he claimed then.
Upazila Health and Family Planning Officer Dr Md Jamal Mia Shovon said one of the three ambulances would be sent to Bogura for repairing within the next one or two days.
